CAR manufacturers are as much responsible for the Nurburgring’s legend as any race or public exploits there. Makers regularly test secret prototypes at the Nordschleife, but they also exploit the ‘Ring’s status with their promotional material.
Why? SImple. The idea is that if a new car can cope with the Nurburgring’s surface changes, cambers, crests and falls – all tackled at blood-curdling, three-figure speeds – it’ll cope with anything a soggy M25 or Welsh back road can throw at it. That’s the idea, at any rate. Others will point out that ‘Ring tuning does plenty to ruin the ride of many overly stiff cars prepared for the unrealistic conditions of the world’s harshest race circuit.
Some manufacturers name their cars after the famous German circuit (step forward, the Vauxhall Astra VXR Nuburgring), and others film their cars there. Cue a handful of films shot by manufacturers to showcase their most sporting models. Watch the videos in our player below.
Manufacturer Nurburgring videos